One fan's free agent wish list...

[silverbear]

Keeping in mind the reality that the Boys will not be making a big splash in free agency, for fiscal reasons and because there's really not a lot out there, making what little there is out there severely overpriced...

A second reality to keep in mind is the Boys need help at cornerback, at this point everything worth a hammered crap at that position is spoken for... unless there are some releases down the road, the team's not gonna be able to do much for itself in free agency at this position... which makes cornerback a semi-serious draft priority...

So, with that in mind, I have narrowed my free agent focus sharply... I've got it down to six players still on the market, at three positions:

WIDE RECEIVER

Javon Walker 6-3 216 Broncos 29 years old
Bryant Johnson 6-3 216 Cards 26 years old
DJ Hackett 6-2 210 Seahawks 26 years old

These are the three best wideouts left on the market, and will be semi-costly... there's not a lot of difference between the three, Walker has been the most productive as a pro so far but has injury baggage and is older... Johnson intrigues me, he put up pretty good numbers while working as third receiver to two really good wideouts in Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin... Hackett has some injury issues too...

Any one of the three would help upgrade the receiver corps...

RUNNING BACK

Tatum Bell 5-11 216 Lions 27 years old
Warrick Dunn 5-9 186 Falcons 33 years old

These are the two backs that have been linked to the Cowboys thus far, both have been productive in the not too distant past... I do worry about how ineffective Dunn was last season, which is why I rate Bell ahead of him here, perhaps last year age started to catch up with this speed back... I rather expect one of these two will be signed, and the price tag won't be too outrageous...

QUARTERBACK

Brian Griese 6-3 216 Bears 33 years old

Just found out today that the Bears have either released him, or are about to release him... he would be a fine backup for Romo, IMO, a savvy vet who has started in the NFL, and has been effective when he had a good offensive line in front of him... he would certainly be an upgrade to Brad Johnson...

Gimme one veteran wideout, one veteran running back and one veteran backup quarterback, and I'll be happy with free agency this year... the thing is, I think they Boys could fill the vacancies from this list for no more than about a six million dollar cap hit in 2008...

 

[DasTex]

Hackett and Dunn would be perfect.

 

[tomson75]

I wouldn't be upset with Walker, but I'd prefer Johnson or Hackett....more specifically, I'd prefer Johnson.

I'm not a fan of either RB here, but I can see where they could be useful. I would've liked to see us take a stab at Stecker.

It's been so long since I've seen Griese play, I really can't comment, but I'm certainly not opposed to upgrading the #2 QB spot. I wonder what the team thinks about Bartel...camp arm and PS guy, or is he a player?

 

[jobberone]

Good stuff silverbear. I'd not thought of Bell and wonder what is would really bring. I just don't know enough of him. What kind of runner and receiver is he? Why is he available if the Lions are desperate at RB?

 

[big dog cowboy]

I'd rather try to get Roy Williams at WR and Mewelde Moore at RB.

 

[AbeBeta]

I'd rather try to get Roy Williams at WR and Mewelde Moore at RB.

I like Moore -- smart kid, good pass catcher..

 

[skinsscalper]

Good stuff silverbear. I'd not thought of Bell and wonder what is would really bring. I just don't know enough of him. What kind of runner and receiver is he? Why is he available if the Lions are desperate at RB?

This is the biggest red flag to me. The Lions aren't sure that Kevin Jones will even be ready for the season opener. You would think, in that particular situation, that they would at least hang on to a guy through Training camp that they made a trade for just last year.

Something about this guy just screams "RUN AWAY", to me.

 

[the kid 05]

I like Moore -- not so smart kid, good pass catcher..

horrible blocker, doesn't pick up the blitz well, decent/bad returner i got the 411 from my brother the dumb viking fan:

 

[AbeBeta]

horrible blocker, doesn't pick up the blitz well, decent/bad returner i got the 411 from my brother the dumb viking fan:

Perhaps you don't understand the context here -- he'd be ideally our #3 RB -- what do you expect from someone like that? A great player who does everything well?

 

[Seven]

Brian Griese has been a very inconsistent backup everywhere he's been. Which is several places..........as a backup.

 

[Woods]

The guy I'd like for us to sign is Hackett at WR.

He has been knicked up, but when healthy, he would be a solid number 2. And his injuries haven't been severe.

 

[Duane]

Bear, when are you going to do your draft spreadsheets like you've done the last several years? Are you going to wait until after the pro days and visits?

 

[Woods]

Buccaneers | Team acquires Griese
Mon, 3 Mar 2008 13:05:55 -0800

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced Monday, March 3, that they acquired QB Brian Griese (Bears) from the Chicago Bears in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.



Brian Griese now gone.

 

[silverbear]

Bear, when are you going to do your draft spreadsheets like you've done the last several years? Are you going to wait until after the pro days and visits?

I've got a spreadsheet working at the moment, it's got a little over 100 players on it, but yeah, I wanna see Pro Day results before I try to finalize it... I won't wait until the very last minute, but it probably won't be for another month or so before I feel like putting it out there...

 

[silverbear]

Buccaneers | Team acquires Griese
Mon, 3 Mar 2008 13:05:55 -0800

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced Monday, March 3, that they acquired QB Brian Griese (Bears) from the Chicago Bears in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.



Brian Griese now gone.

Hmmmm, this may actually work out for the best, if it spells the end of Chris Simms' time in Tampa Bay... it would appear that they don't have plans for Chris...

If he checks out medically, he'd make for a terrific backup for Romo...

 

[Duane]

I've got a spreadsheet working at the moment, it's got a little over 100 players on it, but yeah, I wanna see Pro Day results before I try to finalize it... I won't wait until the very last minute, but it probably won't be for another month or so before I feel like putting it out there...

Cool, I always look forward to the spreadsheet.

 

[BAT]

Bear, that should have been "I'll settle for" list. Why would anyone "wish" for any of those players?

 

[the kid 05]

Perhaps you don't understand the context here -- he'd be ideally our #3 RB -- what do you expect from someone like that? A great player who does everything well?

yes...my football coach expected perfection out of me as the 3rd string w/r k/r so why should we not expect perfection out of someone in the NFL? regardless of position on a depth chart?

 

[BourbonBalz]

Give me Johnson and Bell.

 

[adamknite]

I'd rather try to get Roy Williams at WR and Mewelde Moore at RB.

I'm late to the party as usual, but I like the way you think BDC.